PS2 PS2 Racing Games

[Ajderniz]

This is more of an inquiry than anything else. I love racing games, sometimes, when in the mood, y'know?

Especially if they're easy, arcade-y, and have lots of nice, cool cars I won't even pretend to know the makes of.​

What's funny, I've not played many racing games that I remember. Yes, I played the NFS titles, and loved them, then played the single best arcade racing game ever made: Ridge Racer Type 4, but that's not even a PS2 title...

So, are you a casual racist like me? What are some of your favorite PS2 racing games?​

I'll start by mentioning Need For Speed: Underground 1.​

Nobody's favorite, not the first choice. It's linear, has ridiculous rubber-banding, not to mention the physics when you dare touch a foreign object while taking a turn, and forces you to tweak your car in order to advance to other stages. But it also has a killer soundtrack, cool stages, and feels amazing when you are doing good at a race; also, it has one of the best starter cars ever: the Mazda Miata. If I recall correctly, this baby had the best handling in all of the game. I tried switching cars later in the game but couldn't, because no other car allowed me to laugh in the face of Death as much as the Miata did.​

 

[PhrawzT]

I loved the NFS Underground games. The crazy customization options for paint jobs, decals and the absurd underlighting were so good. I wish they would bring the series back.

Test Drive Unlimited is another game that I really enjoyed. It was one of the first games that I played with an open map and was almost more fun just to drive around and explore than actually play any of the races and challenges.

 

[It's Thinking 2]

I hate realistic driving simulators because you can't control them with a controller, you need a wheel for it. But arcade-y style racers? YES. ALL MY YES.

 

[Sayo]

That one time Namco tried their hand at making an open world Ridge Racer spin off inspired by the likes of Driver

and Grand Theft Auto.
It beats me as to why this never got an international release, but hey, at least we can easily download it these days. I want to dedicate some time to this game later down the line.

 

[Ajderniz]

Critical Velocity

Saw that one the other day on CDR. You tried it yet? Does it emulate well?

 

[Sayo]

Saw that one the other day on CDR. You tried it yet? Does it emulate well?

I'm afraid not, cutscenes don't display correctly and there's no known workaround.

 

[Ajderniz]

I'm afraid not, cutscenes don't display correctly and there's no known workaround.

Big, big bummer

 

[ugly chuckie duckie]

Outrun 2 or 2006 is probably my favorite for arcade racer.

Midnight Club was also a lot of fun too...it's too bad Rockstar abandoned the series and all they care about is GTA or RDR.

 

[CRTRebel]

I've never been a fan of racing games, much less simulated ones. However, with the three Ridge Racer games (and Rage Racer especially) I really enjoyed them. Excuse me if I may sound trite!

 

[It's Thinking 2]

Crusin' USA, Crusin' World, OutRun, OutRunners, OutRun 2019, Turbo OutRun, OutRun 2006, OutRun 2, Daytona USA, Daytona USA 2, Daytona USA 3, Star Wars Episode 1 Racer, Snowboard Kids, Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Revolt, Crash Team Racing, Lego Racers, F-Zero, F-Zero X, F-Zero GX, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, F-Zero GP Legend, F-Zero Climax...

 

[Solvalou]

On the PS2 my favorites are OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, Ridge Racer V and Burnout 3

Both OR2 and RRV were developed by teams that worked on Rave Racer which to me will always be the pinnacle of Arcade racers. Burnout 3 was the last great American Arcade Racer ™ and the best in the series.

 

[Ajderniz]

RRV

How does Ridge Racer V compare to Type 4? I remember trying it and feeling weirded out by the controls, but might give it a second chance soon!

 

[Solvalou]

5 is not the complete video game 4 was, 5 was more like the port of Rave Racer we never got. In Type 4 the cars feel more heavy and slower than in 5, but that's how the series always was like. The PSP Ridge Racer games are a balance of the two.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

All races are equal

But this is the best one

 

[Ajderniz]

5 is not the complete video game 4 was, 5 was more like the port of Rave Racer we never got. In Type 4 the cars feel more heavy and slower than in 5, but that's how the series always was like. The PSP Ridge Racer games are a balance of the two.

Sounds like the PSPs are the ones I'll have to check out, then!

 

[PhrawzT]

Crusin' USA, Crusin' World, OutRun, OutRunners, OutRun 2019, Turbo OutRun, OutRun 2006, OutRun 2, Daytona USA, Daytona USA 2, Daytona USA 3, Star Wars Episode 1 Racer, Snowboard Kids, Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Revolt, Crash Team Racing, Lego Racers, F-Zero, F-Zero X, F-Zero GX, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, F-Zero GP Legend, F-Zero Climax...

I did enjoy the Crusin' series on the N64 and in the arcade.

 

[It's Thinking 2]

I did enjoy the Crusin' series on the N64 and in the arcade.

There was a pizza joint that had Crusin' USA I used to go to all the time too. They kept it for a long time until more recently when they got rid of the old arcade machines for stupid gambling ones.

 

[Smiley Cat]

Just a reminder: The OP specified PS2 racing games.
He explicitly mentioned PS2 in the thread title AND gave the thread a PS2 tag.

So please keep this thread for discussing PS2 racing games, and make new threads for discussing racing games on other platforms. Thank you!


Edit: I've edited the thread title now, to make it more clear.

 

[Guinea]

ATV Offroad Fury, Gran Turismo, Midnight Club and Nascar Thunder. Good times.

 

[Don Patch]

View attachment 1148

On the PS2 my favorites are OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, Ridge Racer V and Burnout 3

Both OR2 and RRV were developed by teams that worked on Rave Racer which to me will always be the pinnacle of Arcade racers. Burnout 3 was the last great American Arcade Racer ™ and the best in the series.

Ah, a connoisseur I see.
Bravo. Excellent taste.

 

[Sayo]

ATV Offroad Fury, Gran Turismo, Midnight Club and Nascar Thunder. Good times.

Those older Nascar titles were truly something else.

 

[It's Thinking 2]

I had a Micro Machines PS2 game. I think it was V4? That was kinda fun. Not GREAT, but fun.

 

[RageBurner]

Depends on what you are looking for, I guess? for Arcade style, I'd say you can't go wrong with Burnout. Simcade wise, Gran Turismo 4 and Enthusia.

 

[BananaJane]

 

[Cu-Neo]

I really love NFS Most wanted 2005 specially it's soundtrack. And also the Initial D game for PS2 (a port from the first-second arcade version) it's amazing a real shame that Sega never decided to localized it